Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Monday, October 7, came out guns-blazing with a fierce defence against allegations set to be tabled against him before the National Assembly.
Tension was brewing for the better part of Monday after the embattled DP announced he would hold a media brief in the evening regarding his impeachment motion as many were left guessing on what Gachagua had up his sleeves.
When he finally got to talking, Gachagua went on a passionate tirade on national television, which mainly revolved around refuting allegations that he fraudulently acquired Ksh5.2 billion in the two years he has been in office.
While slamming Kibwezi West Constituency MP Mwengi Mutuse for tabling the impeachment motion, Gachagua went on to debunk all the corruption allegations against him including clarifying his role on the estate left by his brother Nderitu Gachagua who passed away in February 2017.
While apologising to his brother, the DP revealed that as part of the estate, Nderitu left behind four properties including a hotel and a highrise apartment with a will directing Rigathi as the executor to sell them and share the property if need be.
First up was Olive Garden Hotel which the Deputy President confirmed was sold for Ksh412 million and the money shared to beneficiaries. Also, Queens Gate Apartment was sold to a bank at a value of Ksh600 million, a majority of which was used to pay off debts left by the deceased former Nyeri Governor.
Gachagua further noted that his brother owned Vipingo Beach Hotel which the family resorted to saving a sentimental value that 'reminds us of our beloved brother." The second in command further revealed that Lang'ata Highrise Apartments are still part of the family.
"I take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from my late brother James Nderitu Gachagua that today as your younger brother defends himself he’ll defile your privacy by distributing your will that you wrote in privacy. How unfair, how cruel can you be to a dead man? My dear brother rest in peace and forgive me for having joined politics because were it not for politics, you would not suffer this shame," he appealed.
Land Allegations: During the televised address, the DP further clarified his acquisition of parcels of land contained in the motion filed by Mutuse as property he acquired as proceeds of crime.
The DP refuted that Ruguru Kiamarega parcels were not in Mathira East as alleged in the motion but in Mathira West and refuted that the land possessed a helipad. Instead, he noted that he bought the parcel for Ksh3.5 million and utilises it to rear livestock (150 heads) that have a return of Ksh1.5 million every month.
Regarding 40 acres in the Kieni Constituency of Nyeri, Gachagua insisted that he bought the parcel from Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina.
Gachagua also addressed the alleged 80-acre land in Meru in his name, terming the allegations as ridiculous. "I am a member of Solutions SACCO in Meru," he said. "For those who don't know, I am half Meru. The land in question is in fact just 29 acres and I bought it through Solutions SACCO through a loan."
He went on, "The deputy president, sometimes is a very lonely man. My parents are dead, my brothers are dead and my sisters are married. When I go home, I am many times lonely which is why I decided to look for a land in Meru to be close to relatives. I borrowed money and bought 29 acres in Meru, the land of my mother," he told the press.
Dairy farm in Nyandarua - Another piece of property in the affidavit against the DP is an alleged dairy farm in Nyandarua, which he says he is yet to develop. "I have a small land in Shamata which I am yet to do anything with it. I mentioned wanting to start a dairy farm and Mutuse ran away with that statement."
Cash in Bank: Gachagua insisted that his brother left him 5 per cent of his estate valued at Ksh20 million which was deposited in his bank account after some of the properties were liquidated.
The DP further noted that his account holds an additional Ksh20 million Nderitu left for their mother and listed him as a trustee. An additional Ksh16 million was deposited into his accounts on behalf of his nephews where he was listed as a trustee.
The DP denied claims that his sons acquired Treetops Hotel insisting that it is under lease from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Further, the DP claimed to be an astute businessman, who amassed wealth during the Mwai Kibaki era when he was worked at some of the companies named in his impeachment motion.
"The late Gachagua left 80 flats and left us to distribute the property with a formula. We decided against selling the flats. I have 10 flats Because of the formula, Grand Bypass Apartments Limited manages the flats on behalf of the beneficiaries," he clarified.
Gachagua's latest comments came after the High Court, for the second time, declined to stop the ongoing process to impeach him. According to the parliament lawyer Paul Nyamondi, a total of 19 petitions challenging Gachagua's impeachment have been filed, with little to no outcome to show.
